‘The sooner Zombie-knives and machetes are smelted, the better’

From today it's illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes.

Eden Buron (middle), partner Stephen Blakemore (left) and granddaughter Elliscia Buron (right)
Author: Callum McIntyrePublished 24th Sep 2024

As a new law comes into force today meaning it's illegal to own zombie-style knives and machetes, we've been speaking a a couple setting up an anti knife crime charity.

The law change means the weapons as they've been added to the list of dangerous prohibited items. It eliminates weapons with blades over 8 inches.

A couple in Oxford who are setting up a charity to help people affected by knife-crime say, 'the sooner zombie knives and machetes are smelted, the better'.

Eden Buron, 67, and her partner Stephen Blakemore, 67, are setting up a charity in Oxford in Eden’s son’s name.

It’s after her son, Aaron Buron was fatally stabbed more than a decade ago, whilst stepping in to stop a fight outside his home.

‘It’s the best thing the government has done in a long time’

The couple have been campaigning since against knife-crime, and both are happy to see the ban of zombie-knives and machetes.

Mr Blakemore is a former police officer with over 30 years’ experience, he said: “The sooner they are smelted the better.

“I think it’s the best thing that the government has done in a long time, in regards to the carrying of knives and bladed articles.

“They’ve been misused, abused, and used for what they’re not designed for. Especially a machete as it’s a fantastic gardening tool.

“But a zombie knife is only designed for one thing and that’s to kill and injure. So, putting them all in a smelter will just make everyone a bit safer.”

The impact knife crime has on a family

Ms Buron has been calling for people to hand in zombie-style knives and machetes to the police, as they wouldn’t have been prosecuted before today.

She told us the impact that knife crime has had on the family, she said: “Aaron left two young sons who are now obviously much older, and they haven’t recovered from the loss of their dad.

“They will never recover because every day when they go to bed and every day when they wake up, they still haven’t got a dad there.”

‘We’ve been through it’

Now, the couple are looking to help others by setting up a charity by offering emotional support to victims and the families of people affected by knife crime.

Stephen told us why they are setting up the charity, he said: “We did a Google search and there are no anti-knife crime groups in the Oxfordshire area, and we identified there’s a niche.

He added: “The physical scars (of knife-crime) heal quickly, but the mental scars take years. Eden and her family are still suffering now. It can take a life-time.”

“If everyone’s running around with psychological scars then it’s just going to happen again.

“So, we’re only on the end of the phone, and we know what you’re going through. We’ve been through it.”

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